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Multiple uses multiple benefits

Propylene glycol offers a unique combination
of properties. For more than five decades it
has had an unsurpassed reputation for safe
use in a wide range of consumer and
industrial applications, where it may be used
as an emulsifying agent, humectant (to
retain moisture) or solvent to name just a
few of its common functions.
The propylene glycol molecule itself is chemically inert, i.e. it
is not readily reactive with other substances. This is a parti -
cularly useful feature when seeking to combine contrasting
chemical elements, in a perfume for example, to create a
single, homogeneous fluid. By emulsifying the active ingre -
dients, which otherwise would not mix, the propylene glycol
creates a stable homogeneous fluid that will allow the
intended final product, be it a face cream or shampoo, for
example, to do its job.
Products for every-day convenience
With its unique combination of properties, propylene glycol
fulfils a number of roles in different environments, thus
enabling a wide variety of consumer and industrial products:
In food and beverage, animal feed, cosmetic and pharma -
ceutical applications, propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical
grade) is used, for example, to keep bakery products longer
fresh, to dissolve flavouring in drinks, to keep animal feed
moist, to emulsify oily and watery elements in creams, sprays
and liquids, or as an excipient for the active ingredients in
medicines.
In industrial applications, propylene glycol is used as an
intermediate to make other chemical substances, such as the
unsaturated polyester resins used in bath and kitchenware,
pipes or windmill blades. It is also used to manufacture
plastics, resins, paints and coatings, and plays an important
role as an ingredient of formulations for heat transfer fluids,
liquid detergents or aircraft de-icing.
Multiple uses of propylene glycol
solvent
connects and stabilises insoluble fluids (emulsifier)
holds and dissolves active ingredients equally in a
medium
attracts/holds water/moisture (hygroscopic)
reduces the freezing point, increases the boiling point
high flash and boiling point (outstanding stability)
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Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical
grade) is the specific grade of propylene
glycol that is approved for use in particularly
sensitive applications, such as food, animal
feed, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It
fulfils the strict quality specifications and
hygiene regulations required by the autho ri ties
responsible for health and safety worldwide.
Attractive, efficient and safe cosmetics & toiletry products
Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is used in
more than 4000 cosmetic products. It provides lipstick with
its consistent texture, preserves the homogenous constituency
of body lotions containing both oil and water, maintains the
long-term fragrance of perfumes, and ensures that shampoo
foams nicely. Applications of propylene glycol USP/EP
(pharmaceutical grade) in cosmetics and toiletries include
personal care: bath and shower soaps, gels, face cleansers,
shaving foams, after shave, antiperspirant deodorants,
roll-ons, sticks, lipsticks, fragrances, perfumes
skin care: hand, body and facial moisturisers, sunscreen
products
hair care: shampoos, conditioners, styling gels
oral care: mouthwashes, toothpaste
baby care: wipes, antiseptics
Fun and convenience with tasty foods
Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is the ideal
carrier of a large variety of flavours and colours that give most
of today's food and beverage their distinctive look and taste.
Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) has been
approved for use as food additive E 1520.
In direct food contact it is mainly used as
solvent and carrier of flavour or colour in food and beverage
industry processes, to make drinks, biscuits, cakes, sweets
thickener, clarifier and stabiliser in food and beverage
such as beer, salad dressings or baking mixtures
Palatable animal feed
Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade), with its
characteristic property of attracting water, keeps animal feed*
moist, fresh, chewy and therefore easier to eat. In outdoor
livestock farming, the addition of propylene glycol USP/EP
(pharmaceutical grade) to the feed helps reduce the freezing
point of the moisture present within the food, extending the
usage of feed even at sub-zero temperatures. Propylene glycol
USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) has been approved for use
as feed additive E 490.
Reliable medical therapy
The rapid and reliable availability of the curing agent to the
organism is crucial to the efficiency of any medical
application. In pharmaceuticals, propylene glycol USP/EP
(pharmaceutical grade) facilitates equal distribution of the
active ingredient in the formulation, so that each pill, liquid
dose or cream-based application always contains precisely the
intended amount of curing agent. Pharmaceutical
applications include therapeutic drugs and medicines, such
as vaccines or cough syrup, local anaesthetics, antiseptics,
vitamins and hormones.
* not approved for use in cat feed, see also page 11
Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade)
High purity and first-class quality
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The use and effects of propylene glycol
USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) have been
thoroughly researched. It has been used safely
for more than 50 years, including adoption in
health-sensitive applications such as food,
cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, where the
molecule mainly serves as non-active
ingredient or carrier of other substances. There
has been no risk classification or labelling of
propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical
grade), and the chemical is not negatively
listed in any country of the EU.
Over 50 years of safe use
Authorities confirm safety
Several international authorities have previously investigated
the safety of propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade).
For example, the OECD* published a risk assessment of
propylene glycol indicating no reasons for concern for human
health. If propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is
used in pharmaceuticals, strict specification for quality and
hygiene during the production, transport and use as laid out
in the European Pharmacopoeia, have to be followed. The
European authorities responsible for consumer health have
approved the use of propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical
grade) in direct food contact as food additive E1520, and in
indirect food contact relating to plastic materials and articles
intended to come into contact with food, such as packaging
material. The Personal Care Products Council confirmed
propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) to be safe
for use in cosmetics articles, even at higher concentrations
than those actually used in consumer products.
Well understood substance
Studies have proven that propylene glycol has a very low
degree of toxicity. Indeed, from a toxicological point of view,
alcohol is actually more toxic than propylene glycol. In the
body, under conditions of normal low exposure, propylene
glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is quickly metabolised
and excreted. Its metabolic pathway is comparable to that of
sugar: propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is
rapidly broken down into lactic acid, in a similar manner to
that which occurs with sugar (energy) in the muscles during
sports. Lactic acid, the metabolite of propylene glycol USP/EP
(pharmaceutical grade), is therefore also naturally present in
the body. It is excreted via urine. For the environment, studies
have shown that propylene glycol is neither persistent nor
does it bio-accumulate - it is readily biodegradable.
Seamless quality and hygiene monitoring until delivery
Any material or container that comes into contact with
propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) during
production, filling, transport and delivery is seamlessly
monitored, controlled and tracked. The rules laid down in the
official documents include instructions on equipment,
storage, sample taking, personnel health and qualification,
design and construction details, sealing and cleaning
instructions, loading, transporting and unloading
specifications, packaging and quality analysis. In addition, in
order to ensure best practice and highest quality and safety
standards, the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic)
and the European Federation of Chemical Distributors (FECC)
have initiated a uniform assessment system throughout the
whole value chain. Under the highly advanced Safety and
Quality Assessment System, independent auditors regularly
assess authorised partners on the basis of a commonly
agreed set of quality controls. Based on the quality
assessment reports, which can be made public, the
manufacturers of propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical
grade) can manage the quality of their distributors in the value
chain.
* Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
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In the industrial and professional sectors,
there are many applications that require so-
called functional fluids. Accordingly,
propylene glycol provides essential benefits
whether acting as a heat transfer medium;
lowering the freezing point/increasing the
boiling point of liquids; reducing and
retaining viscosity; carrying, stabilising and
dissolving active agents; or protecting
against corrosion and pressure bursts.
Industrial propylene glycol helps other
products fulfil their function longer and
better, uniting their diverse, and often
conflicting, properties in a single, cost-
efficient substance.
Plastics & resins for the most demanding applications
Propylene glycol is a basic building block, and important
intermediate, in the production of high performance,
unsaturated polyester resins (UPR). These are used in
reinforced plastic laminates for marine construction, bath- &
kitchenware, synthetic marble castings, electrical compo -
nents, pipes and tanks, sheet moulding compounds for the
automotive and transportation industries, or windmill blades.
Propylene glycol also works as a reactive element (starter) to
produce polyurethanes for use as rigid or flexible foams, for
example, in the insulation and furniture industries
Aircraft de-icers: Safe service at extreme temperatures
Being essentially non-toxic, easily biodegradable, non-
corrosive to metals, low flammable and easy to handle,
propylene glycol is today the chemical of choice for de-icing
aircrafts and runways for most of the worlds airlines and
airports. On a consumer level, propylene glycol is used in
automotive windscreen de-icers for safer driving.
Heat transfer fluids with multiple effects
In engine coolants, propylene glycol is mainly used to reduce
the freezing point of the liquid, thus preventing the cooling
system and the engine from corrosion, overheating and freezing.
In burst protection liquids, propylene glycol lowers the vapour
pressure. In freezing liquids, a water-glycol mixture retains
its flowability and does not create added pressure in pipes or
vessels. Further applications include solar panel systems or
marine transportation.
Efficient liquid detergents
In liquid household and dishwashing detergents, as well as
in industrial soap and cleaning fluids, propylene glycol
provides a homogeneous distribution of the active cleaning
ingredient in the liquid. In addition, it stabilises the dirt-
removing ingredients, and helps them to retain their function
even at lower temperatures, keeping the liquid crystal-clear at
normal use temperatures.
Paints & coatings for sustainable protection
Propylene glycol contributes substantially to the protective
power of paints and varnishes, helping preserve surfaces,
protect buildings against weathering, maintain the quality and
beauty of floors in high-traffic areas. It also facilitates their
handling and use in other professional applications. For
example, it controls both the flexibility as well as the hardness
of coatings and provides both freeze and thaw stability in
paints.
Propylene glycol in industrial applications
Reliable processing the backbone of industry
11 10
How can I know that propylene glycol is in a product:
Is it labelled?
When propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is
used in food, you will find it labelled as E 1520, and in feed
applications as E 490. In cosmetics there is no requirement
for an "E"-number, you will find propylene glycol listed as such
in the ingredient list. In industrial products, there is no
requirement for propylene glycol to be labelled.
How can a de-icer be used in food or in cosmetics?
It is not the de-icer that is used; the different natural
functionalities of propylene glycol make it the preferred
substance in both applications. In the de-icer it is the ability
to reduce the freezing point, in cosmetics the ability to
dissolve, emulsify, or carry active ingredients in substances. In
the de-icer industrial propylene glycol is used, in the cosmetic
it is of course the propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical
grade). It is the multifunctionality of propylene glycol that
offers this wide variety of uses.
What happens with propylene glycol in the body?
In the body, under conditions of normal low exposure,
propylene glycol is quickly metabolised and excreted. Its
metabolic pathway is comparable to that of sugar: propylene
glycol is rapidly converted into lactic acid, just like what
happens with the sugar (energy) in the muscles when being
exercised during sports. The lactic acid is then excreted via
the urine.
Is propylene glycol used in pet food safe for all animals?
The European authorities have approved propylene glycol
USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) for use in animal feed
(E 490) for specified animals, such as dairy cows, meat
cattle, calves, lambs, pigs, poultry and dogs, with the
exception of cat feed. The reason is that high doses of
propylene glycol cause a type of anaemia in cats which is not
seen in dogs, cattle or humans. Propylene glycol is therefore
not used in cat feed.
Is propylene glycol safe for babies and small children?
From over 50 years of safe use, and from existing studies,
there is no indication that propylene glycol has any negative
effects on the health of humans, including that of babies and
small children.
Frequently asked
questions about
propylene glycol
Please have a look on our website:
http://www.propyleneglycol.org
Who controls the safety of propylene glycol in Europe?
The European Councils Pharmacopoeia document issued
by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines
(EDQM) defines strict rules for the identification, analytical
testing and quality specifications of chemicals used in
pharmaceutical applications, such as propylene glycol. This
document is regularly updated, recently in 2008. In
addition, the European authorities responsible for
consumer safety have assessed propylene glycol USP/EP
(pharmaceutical grade) and approved it to be safe for use
in direct and indirect food contact. For cosmetics
applications, it is the Personal Care Products Council that
monitors and approves the use of substances in cosmetics,
such as propylene glycol USP/EP.
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Disclaimer
The information, specifications, procedures,
methods and recommendations herein are
presented in good faith, are believed to be
accurate and reliable, but may well be
incomplete and/or not applicable to all
conditions or situations that may exist or
occur. No representation, guarantee or
warranty is made as to the accuracy,
reliability or completeness of said
information, specifications, procedures,
methods and recommendations or that the
application or use of any of the same will
avoid hazards, accidents, losses, damages
or injury of any kind to persons or property
or that the same will not infringe patents of
others or give desired results. Readers are
cautioned to satisfy themselves as to the
suitability of said information,
specifications, procedures, methods and
recommendations for the purposes
intended prior to use.
Propylene glycol
the safe enabler
The contents in this brochure are provided
by the group representing the producers of
propylene glycol within Cefic, the European
Chemical Industry Association.
Contact:
Propylene Oxide/
Propylene Glycol sector group
Cefic
Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4
B 1160 Brussels
www.propyleneglycol.org
info@propyleneglycol.org
Issued 12/2008
P ROP Y L E NE
GLY COL